The House approves a number of items that would significantly limit, if not overturn the Governor’s ability to set pandemic public health restrictions. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (32) “…Matt Doyle”  

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Two are dead after a State Police trooper rear-ends a vehicle in Ouachita Parish. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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The 2020 Census is less than a week away from its October 5^th deadline and census workers are hitting the streets to cover the remaining the 5% of Louisiana households that have not yet responded.  Assistant regional census manager Marilyn Stephens says there are three ways to participate.

Cut 3 (10)  “…interview by phone.”  

Stephens says the greatest concentration of homes that have not responded to the census is in the northern portion of the state.

Cut 4 (04) “…into Shreveport..”

Stephens says elected officials are emphasizing the importance of this year’s participation because the 2010 census was not looked at as a complete census for Louisiana.

Cut 5 (09) “…a major difference.”

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The Louisiana House passed several proposals today that would either eliminate Governor John Bel Edwards’ COVID-19 public health orders or give lawmakers more authority.

Speaker Clay Schexnayder’s resolution to terminate the pandemic emergency declaration after the session ends won approval. Haughton Representative Doddie Horton…

Cut 6 (10)“…to be”

Supporters of the resolution say the Legislature would then have time to craft their own pandemic public health policy.

Covington Representative Mark Wright’s bill would create an automatic process for the Legislature to approve or reject an emergency declaration extension by the Governor.

Cut 7 (12) “…to us.”

30 days after the declaration is first made if either the Upper or Lower Chamber rejects the extension or aspects of the extension, it would not go into place.

Abita Springs Representative Larry Frieman brought a bill that would allow the Legislature to either terminate entire emergency orders, or just parts of one.

Cut 8 (08) “in place.”

Frieman says this bill was in response to concerns from colleagues that the wholesale elimination of a public health emergency declaration would result in the loss of federal funding.

None of the bills approved had enough votes to override a governor’s veto. The resolution to suspend the governor’s order doesn’t need the governor’s signature.

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An 11-year old and an 18-year-old are dead after a southbound State Police Trooper rear-ended another vehicle while responding to a separate crash last night in Ouachita Parish on Highway 165. Trooper Michael Reichardt says the trooper involved in the crash is Kaleb Reeves, the son of State Police Superintendent, Colonel Kevin Reeves.

Cut 9 (07) “…driver’s side door.”

Reeves was en route to an 18-wheeler crash in Caldwell Parish.

Reichardt says the trooper was not injured in the crash, but the other driver involved, Kenneth Lindsey, was taken to a hospital with moderate injuries.

Cut 10 (06) “…were pronounced dead.”

The deceased have been identified as 11-year-old An-Janne Lindsey and 18-year-old Kajenne Lindsey, both of Monroe.

Reichardt says it has not yet been determined if Trooper Kaleb Reeves will be put onto administrative leave.

Cut 11 (08) “…two young individuals.”

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Governor Edwards says the current restrictions on bars are necessary to keep COVID-transmission low and save lives.

Bars in parishes that can open can only serve until 11 PM, can only do table service, and are limited to 25 percent capacity. Edwards says these aren’t arbitrary rules.

Cut 12 (09) “task force.”

Those under 21 are now not allowed to enter bars.

Only bars in parishes with lower than a five percent positivity rate on new COVID tests may open. Edwards says that’s because areas with higher rates just have too much community spread.

Cut 13 (10) “…positivity.”

About a third of parishes are still blocked from allowing bars to reopen.

Edwards Administration staff have frequently repeated that bars create environments conducive to the spread of coronavirus, and Edwards says we can’t risk more youth cases with colleges now reopened.

Cut 14 (06) “…cases.”

A House committee advances a resolution by the House Speaker that would suspend all COVID public health orders by the Governor for 30 days after the special session ends. Matt Doyle has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…Matt Doyle”  

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A bill is advancing that would require four members of the state legislature to sit on the Louisiana High School Athletic Association executive board. Jeff Palermo has more…

cut 2 (33) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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Don’t let the fall weather fool you. Hurricane season is not over. State climatologist Barry Keim says it’s too early to let your guard down because the history books reflect that storms can make a Louisiana landfall in October.

Cut 3 (10)  “…of the month.”  

The records date back to 1851.

While many of the state’s October landfalls may be frontloaded, Hurricane Juan made landfall on October 29, 1985, looped around, and made a second landfall on October 31.  Keim says it may not have been the most powerful hurricane, but its stationary nature pummeled south Louisiana.

Cut 4 (12) “…end of October.”

Juan is the latest into a season that a hurricane has made landfall in Louisiana.  Keim says that means no storm has made a Louisiana landfall in the last month of hurricane season.

Cut 5 (08) “…are not zero.”

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A House committee approves a resolution that would suspend the Governor’s COVID public health emergency order for 30 days after the current special session ends. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says his resolution would eliminate all COVID public health restrictions established by the Governor, and give the Legislature time to craft their own.

Cut 6 (04) “…better”

The session is expected to end in late October.

Much of the discussion at the committee centered on the damage done to businesses by the ongoing orders. Sulphur Representative Les Farnum says the restrictions exacerbated Laura’s economic hit…

Cut 7 (09) “…punch.”

The Governor has called previous attempts to suspend the order irresponsible and says they would lead to an immediate loss of a substantial amount of federal funding under the Stafford Act.

Haughton Representative Doddie Horton says the orders infringe on resident’s liberty and need to be eliminated quickly. She says that starts with the mask mandate in schools.

Cut 8 (11) “…face.”

The resolution moves to the House floor.

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The Senate Education Committee approves legislation that would require the Louisiana High School Athletic Association to have four state legislators serve on the executive board of the LHSAA. Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey says this will help keep lawmakers more informed on issues involving high school sports

Cut 9 (09) “…institutions.”

Cathey says during the summer when the LHSAA was trying to figure out how to play high school football during a pandemic, his phone was blowing up about the possibility that the season would be canceled…

Cut 10 (10) “…lit up.”

LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine told the panel he communicates with several legislators already and is okay with lawmakers on the executive board, he just doesn’t think a law is needed

Cut 11 (11) “…and Speaker.”

The measure heads to the Senate floor for more consideration.

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Senator Karen Carter Peterson expresses her displeasure with a lack of spread mitigation efforts from fellow lawmakers.  Peterson slammed those lawmakers who were not using masks.

Cut 12 (10) “…other members’ health.”

Peterson highlights that mask usage it the top recommendation of the White House Coronavirus Task Force.

Cut 13 (13) “…we should do.”

Peterson says the Capitol should hold itself to a higher standard that places like Walmart and Whole Foods who mandate masks while inside.  Peterson adds it is imperative that lawmakers are setting an example for constituents.

Cut 14 (11) “…help me somebody.”